AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch

Gas Prices in the State of Texas are up 6 cents this week $2.54 a gallon of regular unleaded fuel.

Amarillo is seeing a 7 cent increase to $2.48 a gallon and is 9 cents more than this time last week.

Daniel Armbruster with AAA Texas.

Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Texas, drivers in Midland are paying the most on average at $2.70 while drivers in San Antonio are paying the least at $2.39 per gallon.

Driving style and vehicle operation recommendations include:

• Optimizing your daily driving. Maintain steady speeds. A car uses extra fuel accelerating.  Cruise control may be a fuel saving option for motorists who drive a lot because a steady speed conserves fuel.  This is helpful when driving on level roads.  However, cruise control hurts mileage if you drive on hilly terrain.
• Minimizing last-minute braking. Anticipate traffic conditions. Be alert for slow-downs and red lights and coast up to them, if possible. Drive smoothly, avoiding “jackrabbit starts.” The faster you drive, the more fuel used. Remember, however, that traveling slower than traffic flow can cause a safety hazard.
• Making sure you’re shopping around. Looking for low gasoline prices in their local communities may save motorists money. Consumers can easily shop around online or on a mobile device by using the free AAA app, which automatically displays the lowest gas price near the user on the home screen.  Traveling long distances to save a few cents wastes fuel and may cost motorists more money.
• Don’t haul extra weight in the passenger compartment or trunk. Reducing extra weight can save up to 2% fuel economy for every 100 lbs. removed depending on the weight of the vehicle. Also lose the roof rack, if not used regularly. Carrying things on a roof rack increases aerodynamic drag and reduces fuel economy – year-round.
• Using the air conditioner only when necessary. Air conditioning reduces fuel economy by about 5 percent or more in an older model vehicle. The rule of thumb on hot days is to open your windows when you are driving slowly (under about 45 mph) but close them and turn on the air conditioner at higher freeway speeds. Driving with the windows open can increase the aerodynamic drag, and this effect increases proportionately with speed.